As Myanmar does not have set policies for air emissions, water emissions or ongoing monitoring, foreign companies are eager to line their pockets while freely dumping pollutants into the air and water.

In the past two days Ethiopia released six journalists from prison, an unprecedented development in one of Africa's most repressive countries for the media. The releases happened in advance of President Obama's trip to Ethiopia later this month.

While Mr. Obama was having his "best week" in office, according to the mainstream media, the biggest blot on his time in office erupted in protest in South Florida over the Dominican Republic's drive to disenfranchise more than 200,000 people of Haitian descent and drive them into statelessness.

In 2012, Raif Badawi, a blogger in the kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA) who is now 31, was arrested in his native land and charged with offenses ranging from parental disobedience to cyber-crime and apostasy from Islam.

Early July still brings a bittersweet week for Bosnian-Americans. They are reminded by the Srebrenica genocide commemoration why so many had to flee Bosnia and Herzegovina and why they/we are so fortunate to have been welcomed in America.

Should we pronounce the UN a failure, or perhaps give it a ceremonial gold watch and retire it? The UN and its adjunct organs and agencies have made much progress, before the 50th Anniversary, but also since.

The Economist recently highlighted the contrast between post-revolt Asian societies and Middle Eastern and North African societies in the woes of a pro-longed, messy and bloody transition that is pockmarked by revolt and counter-revolt, sectarianism, the redrawing of post-colonial borders, and the rise of retrograde groups as revolutionary forces.

Most things can be found in Myanmar now (and cheaply) but books are still costly for most Myanmar people or just not accessible. Mindy Walker, who works with the Richardson Center for Global Engagement in Myanmar, tries to get colorful books into children's hands.

As World Refugee Day approaches, it is worth remembering that the right to seek asylum was established during the post-WWII realization that the Nazis were able to kill so many people because there were no safe havens for those fleeing Hitler's murderous plan. Seventy-five years later, the right to seek asylum has been eviscerated, and now, the reality has reached dire levels.

At 70, "The Lady" remains the leading voice for democracy in this strategic part of the world. Much depends on how she uses that voice from now on. The fall election will be the first relatively free ballot in 25 years -- and she needs every vote she can get to reduce the military's grip on the government.